Month: July 2020

SMSF Sorted 2.0 – Built for SMSF Administrators and Outsource Firms

The latest release from SMSF Sorted provides a range of new features designed to assist administrators and large outsourcing firms to manage their jobs, documents and data whilst at the same time, standardising and slashing processing time per fund. SMSF Sorted can now link to your customers (Accountants/Financial Planners), as well as to your Auditors, to ensure there is a single system to manage your complete workflow across multiple stakeholders.

1. Document Management System (DMS)

We’ve completely revolutionised document management by ensuring your document storage and lead schedule referencing is one and the same. The content in your PDF source documents is turned into structured searchable data for instant search-find referencing. Then, by using bookmark logic to save in-page reference points, you are able to build out a fully referenced lead schedule by simply saving docs in our DMS. Reviewers, customers and auditors can then click lead schedule links to specific in-page reference points saving document handling time all the way through the review chain.

2. Workflow Management (Internal & External)

SMSF Sorted offers you a single dashboard to manage your jobs, assign staff and track job statuses. This also includes management of external stakeholders; the added workflow functionality allows you to share, manage, communicate and track everything you need with your internal staff, customers and auditors. Our latest release incorporates a new itemised review/re-work/approval workflow for your external customers and auditors. Whether changes are requested by your customer or auditor, SMSF Sorted allows for document changes, re-importing of data from your admin software and then re-submitting for client approval or auditor sign off.

3. Portals Portals Portals…

To manage the external part of your workflow, SMSF Sorted allows you to create customer and auditor portals. Customer Portals Connect to your accountant and financial planner customers by creating them a free portal from SMSF Sorted. This allows your customers to share docs, review work, approve, raise/respond to queries, track statuses and request changes/re-work. Auditor Portals You can also connect to your auditor via SMSF Sorted. If they are a non-Cloudoffis auditor, you can create them a free read-only version from SMSF Sorted or for best in class automation, connect to a Cloudoffis SMSF Auditomation subscriber to further enhance the automation on both sides of the process.  Either option allows you to transfer data, docs and review/respond to queries.

4. Job Standardisation and Automation

End-of-year processing is standardised and laid out in a clear dashboard to aid in processing, this vastly reduces quality and human error risk. A set of automated compliance checks help to ensure consistency by raising red flags and alerting users to certain points of interest. This includes checking for work test requirements, how effective tax has been allocated as well as if there were any lump sum payments, contra bank entries or negative balances through the year, to name just a few.

5. Customisation and Integration

The features in our DMS and Workflow have been designed specifically for your SMSF process. If for any reason you cannot completely replace your current DMS or Workflow tool, or if you have other proprietary software such as a client portal, we have the ability and experience to integrate into your existing systems to ensure you gain maximum efficiency by adding SMSF Sorted into your tech stack. Cloudoffis specialises in automation and workflow technology for accountants, administrators and auditors in the SMSF space. All systems compliment and integrate beautifully with leading SMSF Admin software like, Class and BGL. See how our solutions can help your firm, get in touch with us here.  Want to learn more about the the SMSF Sorted 2.0 release? Join the upcoming webinar: 

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API integration of Cloudoffis + BGL workpapers is an iconic feature

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Also published by SMSF Adviser, powered by Momentum Media Written by Miranda Brownlee on 20 July 2020 Cloudoffis, one of Australia’s leading providers of cloud-based SMSF Preparation and Audit Automation technology today announced the successful integration of their “SMSF Auditomation” platform with BGL Workpapers–an extension of the pre-existing integration with BGL Simple Fund 360.

Enhanced features brought together with API integration.

A major key feature of this industry-first API integration between Cloudoffis + BGL Workpapers is the time-saving potential this automation provides beyond any other solution available on the market. The bookmarking and tagging of source documents in workpapers flow through into the audit file and align with each lead schedule item. The automated observations improve accuracy and provide peace of mind by being automatically checked and flagged for any errors. The auditor can address red flags as they’re found – not go searching for them. An inbuilt risk matrix is created as data is pulled through from BGL and analyzed. The pre-audit risk value alerts provide an opportunity for appropriate management. As a result, Cloudoffis “SMSF Auditomation” users (Auditors) will get broader access to Simple Fund 360 generated financial reports and documents tagged to the trial balance. Combined with Auditomation’s document recognition, direct data sourcing, and automation capabilities, this integration will help SMSF auditors streamline their audit processes, sharpen accuracy and reduce upward of 50% of their time per audit.

BGL and Cloudoffis; a 1–2 punch

BGL Corp acknowledged the longstanding relationship between both the businesses and Cloudoffis’ vision in further streamlining the SMSF process from engagement to completion. “At BGL, we are a strong advocate of developing ecosystem partnerships to help businesses streamline processes. Partnering with Cloudoffis is an example of two leading technology providers collaborating for the benefit of both our clients. BGL currently has over 350 partners as part of our Ecosystem” said Ron Lesh, BGL’s Managing Director. Integration with BGL’s Simple Fund 360 (OR Workpapers) reflects Cloudoffis’ continued commitment to helping SMSF providers automate and streamline their processes.

  “At Cloudoffis we continue to refine our SMSF Preparation and Audit Automation solutions to help the industry and our users find efficiencies across processes and maximize return on investment,” said Viral Kanabar, Co-Founder & Director at Cloudoffis.

Workpapers were created by BGL to prepare and review workpapers from data in SimpleFund 360 and complete any necessary checklists. Cloudoffis’ other compliance preparation solution “SMSF Sorted” (for Accountants) can complement Workpapers by providing workflow notifications and tracking, dashboards, and a comprehensive query and review module; couple this with integration to Cloudoffis’ “SMSF Automation” solution (for Auditors) for a highly efficient, compliant, end-to-end SMSF workflow solution. Cloudoffis and BGL can be used as stand-alone products but operate with an integrated 1–2 punch, keeping SMSF together, as manual processes become siloed, to remain streamlined from SMSF accounting through to auditing.

Watch the industry-first Audit automation API integration with Cloudoffis SMSF Automation & BGL Workpapers

About Cloudoffis

Cloudoffis offers a brand new way of preparing an SMSF & conducting an audit. It is developed with a unique technology that individually saves Accountants & Auditors upward of 50% time per fund. Accurate, fast, and compliant, Cloudoffis fits seamlessly and combines with leading SMSF administration providers–completing the SMSF workflow process and enhancing the all-user experience. Cloudoffis not only automates the manual processes outside of existing admin software but also provides highly intuitive and intelligent tools to enhance an Accountants or Auditors ability to conduct critical analysis, make judgments and streamline their process to professional standards. Headquartered in Sydney, NSW, Cloudoffis is in its fourth year of operation and continues to carve out its lane for the SMSF industry. Chris Satchi – Head of Sales Email: sales@cloudoffis.com.au Phone: 0403 513 354 Website: https://www.cloudoffis.com.au/schedule-a-live-demo/

About BGL

With over 30 years of trust in the accounting software space, BGL delivers Australia’s leading and award-winning cloud-based corporate compliance management and SMSF administration software solutions to over 8,000 businesses in 15 countries. All through a user-friendly and highly intelligent web application. BGL’s market-leading Simple Fund 360 and Simple Fund Desktop solutions are used to administer over 60% of Australia’s 600,000 self-managed super funds. Our clients include all major accounting firms, law firms, many listed and private company groups, accountants, financial planners, and many individual SMSF trustees. Contact – Ron Lesh Email: marketing@bglcorp.com.au Phone: 1300 654 401 Website:  https://www.bglcorp.com

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5 key points to keep in mind when going through a software review

The software landscape is fast-moving and ever-changing. This article covers 5 key points to keep in mind through a software review. To begin a successful review, you will first need a deep understanding of your firm’s workflow and challenges and then secondly, be up to date and familiar with the latest technology available in the industry. Software is obviously not something you want to get wrong. Not only is it expensive to change but the change itself is time and resource-intensive. If it is done right you can keep changes to a minimum, maximise your efficiency and remain at the forefront of new developments without a worry in the world for years to come..

1. Automation

Technology is now at a point where rather than just helping with managing and organising tasks, they can be, to varying degrees, actually done for you. The AI and machine learning trend is game-changing and is offering firms new ways to gain efficiencies. If your technology is a few years old and hasn’t been actively developed, there could be new alternatives that can change the way you do things. If you are reviewing new technology, review it from the lens of “how much time will this save me or my team; can the machines do the mundane tasks my staff waste precious hours on?” This can also be considered when reviewing and improving outsourcing strategies.

2. Integration

It is important that software is flexible and plays nice with your other systems to ensure it complements your workflow. Always check the software you are reviewing already has, or is open to, useful integrations. Many software companies out there are effectively a closed-loop and try to build all the products/modules themselves, this can restrict your ability to utilise best in class technology whilst maintaining a connected workflow.

3. Tech stack context

Software products often focus on one area and do it well. e.g. a Document management system, a workflow program, a customer portal, etc. This often means a firm may have anywhere from 3 to 5 disparate software systems to fulfil a single work process. Integrations can help with this but a fully integrated 5 system solution is unlikely for most firms to construct and navigate. Rather than focusing on feature-rich or even overall best in class systems, review technology from the context of your own workflow and requirements. Is there potentially 1 system that does what you need instead of 3 individual systems?

4. Future development (A going concern)

Static software development is not a good sign. It’s basically going backwards. In such a fast-moving competitive market, you will be best served to enquire as to the growth and development plans of a software package you are currently using or reviewing. Partnering with a software firm that aggressively releases updates and new features means you are likely staying up to date with the latest tech and reducing your future risk of needing to change in the near future.

5. Cost vs Value

This is very specific to your own circumstances. The cheapest software or the most expensive is not necessarily the right option for you. It needs to solve a problem for you specifically. This sounds obvious but there are so many firms that either have low-cost solutions that don’t actually offer real value or firms with expensive pieced together solutions that can actually cause inefficiency. Understanding the actual value vs costs of software relative to your own situation is crucial. Inefficiency isn’t a line item on the balance sheet, unfortunately! Cloudoffis specialises in automation technology for accountants and auditors in the SMSF space, get in touch with us here.

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